Method of coating metal articles



Dec. 2, 1930. J. s. GEORGE ET AL METHOD op 'coATING METAL ART ICLES Original Filed Aug. ll, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet IN VEN 70H5 JW ZE 7& 7 ATTORNEYS i.

DeC- 2, 1930 J. s. GEORGE E'r AL 1,783,188

METHOD OF COATING METAL ARTICLES Original Filed Aug. ll, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 2, 1930. J, s GEORGE ETAL 1,783,188

METHOD oF coATING METAL' ARTICLES Original Filed Aug. 11. 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet C5 I N VEN TORS JY 35h11 /Zfww m a 74M? 4 TTORNEYS Dec. 2, 1930 J. S. GEORGE E T AL METHOD OF COATING METAL ARTICLES 1l, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed Aug.

BY 7 J 5 7 @7; Z@ 7 ATTORNEYS Dec. 2, 1930. J. s. GEORGE E'r AL METHOD OF COATING METAL 'ARTICLES Original Filed Aug. l1, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 S C.. R v' m Mdm E.. 0 WJJU @JMA APatented Dec. 2, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JAMES S. GEORGE AND ROGER S. SPERRY, WATRBURY, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNORS TO SCOVILL MANUFACTURING COMPANY, 0F WATERBURY, CONNECTICUT, A COR- PORATION OF CONNECTICUT METHOD OF COATING METAL ARTICLES Griginal application-filed August 11, 1925, Serial No. -49,524. Divided and this application filed December This invent-ion relates to a method of coating metal articlesand more particularly for coating metal articles by dipping the same in a lacquer bath. l A v The present application is a division from au application liled Augustull, 1925, Serial No. 49,524. v

lt is an .object of the invention toprovide a method of coating articles such that the finished articles have a unifOrmly'ev-en coating ot the proper. thickness and freefrom blemishes.

lVith this general 'obj/ect in View. the i n vcntiou consistsm tiieinethod which will lil-st be described'lin connection withthe accompanying drawings7 and then more particularly pointed out".

1u the drawngs'- Figure .l is a Sectional view taken on the broken line 1-1 of Fig. 2, with parts indicated diagrammatically and parts omitted,

of an apparatus suitable for carrying out `the method;

Figure 2 broken line 2 2 of Fig. 1, with part away and certain parts omitted; F igure' 3 is a detail view showing-', in vertical section andenlarged,` a po Y ofthe apparatus 'at the dippingv station Figure 4' is l'a similar yi v l@f1 a position of' the parts;

Figures 5 and 6 are showing, in vertical sectioir,A

station; j

Figli re? is a similar View`- (reduced) showing thc parts. just beyond the: Figs. 5 and 6; l

Figure 8 is a dctailivieivf ged) showing, in side elevation and partly in section, one rack unit; Y

Figure 9 is a` lsection lvvie'w (enlarged)v taken on the line 9-.9 (if-F ig. .8,looking in the direction of the arrowgf- Figure 10 is a sectional View taken on the line 10-10 of Fig. 9,;looking in the direction of the arrow;

Figure 11 is a fragmentary view showing' in side elevation withparts broken awayand parts in section and parts indicated diagraml ing materials.

a sectional view taken-'on the Y stroken fxipgmeritary. viewsv ositions of' Serial No. 156,620.

matically, that portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 7;

F igur-e 12 is a fragmentary sectional view lookingr in the direction of the arrow 12' of Fig. 1.1; and,

Figure 13 is a diagrammatic view of the heatingsystem and control.`

According to the method of the'present invention, the articles to be coated are submerged in a bath of the coating material. For convenience of description the material is referred to in the specil'ication and claims as lacquer butit is to be understood that the term lacquer is used in a general and com-A prehensive sense and is' intended to include various forms 'of lacquer and analogous coatlVhile the articles tobe coated may vary, the invention is particularlyY applicable to metal shell-like articles such as Y box parts.

After the articles have remained in the bath a sufficient period they are Withdrawn from the'bath at a rate of emergence that bears a .definite ratio to the rate'of gravitational flow ordrain of the lacquer on the emerging articles, and according to th-e best practice the articles willbe Withdrawn at a rate of emergence that is substantial-ly equal to the rate of lacquer flow; 1 It has 'been found that when the articles are withdrawn too slowly; in pro'- portion to the rate of lacquer fl0w, or, conversely, when the lacquer flows too rapidly .i i

for a given rate of emergence, the port-ions of the articlestirst emerging do not have a proper coating as there is an excessive lacquer' drainage or drag away from those portions.

On the other hand, when the articles are withdrawn too rapidly in proportion to the rate of lacquer flow, or the lacquer flows too slowly for a given-rate of emergence, the excess lacquer'does not properly drain oli', particularly at'lthe portions vof the articles last emerging. This results in thick spots that cause discoloration and :other blemishes.

- By withdrawning the articles as above described, these' disadvantages are avoided.

There is .no excessive How or sagging' of -thc Ylacquer on the parts iirst emerging and-the drainage of excess lacquer is sufficient to avoid thick spots. There is a clean break between vthe film and bath surface and retention of drops of lacquer at the points of the articles last emerging is avoided.

rl`he relation between the rate of emergence and the lacquer flow may be maintained by' varying the rate of emergence of the articles or the viscosity of the lacquer. The former may be regulated by varying the speed ofthe articles in their journey through the bath, the angle of the path of withdrawal, or the relative angular position of thearticles in emerging. The viscosity of the bath may be regulated by controlling the temperature of the bath or by adding or subtracting thinning material to or from the bath.

In carrying out the invention in its entirety, the dipped articles are withdrawn while positioned at an angle to the horizontal and, immediately after withdrawal, whilel the lacquer still unset, the position of the articles is reversed with respect to the horizontal, thereby to reverse the direction of the lacquer flow. According to what is now considered the best practice, the articles are rocked back and forth across the horizontal several times. This periodically reverses the direction of lacquer flow and spreads the lacquer in an even film during the period prior to setting of the lacquer. The articles are held at the end of each rocking movement a sulicient time to permit vthe lacquer to overcome inertia and start to reverse its flow. Since there may be some concentration of lacquer ,at the portions of the articles -lastJ emerging the articles may be held in the position Vopposite the position of emergenc'e slightly longer than they Iare held in the position of emergence, in order to compensate Y for this concentration.

The articles are dried and the lacquer film given -a final set by subjecting them to the faction of heat. This-is a step known in the art and needs no further description.

In carrying out the invention inits entirety, the articles, between the rocking or spreading operation andthe final drying, are held in a horizontal positionduring what may be termed a preliminary setting period, i..e. a period in which the lacquer sets sutliciently to be non-fluent. By so holding the articles untilthe preliminary set is effected there is no danger of any creep in the film :following the spreading operation, e. g. while the articles are being transported to a drymar the appearance of thetinished article. ln carryingout the method of the invention in its entirety the articles, while submerged in the bath, are shifted into a position to permit the escape of any entrapped air. The character of this movement will depend upon the nature of the article and its position ot' submergence. In any case, however, the article is moved into such a position that there is a free path for any air bubbles to flow upwardly to the surface of the bath. For example, when a box part or shell is submerged with its open face at an acute angle to the horizontal, a movement of thc article to cause its open face to approach and slightly cross the vertical permits the escape of the entrapped air. t f

'lhe drawings illustrate apparatus suitable for carrying out the method above described and the various steps will be further explained in connection with a description ot' this apparatus.

Referring to the drawings, in tneembodiment illustrated as an example, supported by a main frame 21 is a housing enclosing a dipping chamber 9.3 and a' housing Qi enclosing a drying chamber 25, the two chambers being contiguous and having a common dividing wall. Near the bottom and outer end of the dipping chamber is a tank 26 for Va lacquer bath, hereinafter rreferred to in 'more detail` There is provided conveyor means. for conveying the articles to be coated past the tank and to and through the drying chamber and this may conveniently be accomplished by an endless conveyor carrying article supports. 'As here shown as an example, the conveyor means comprises two parallel endless chains moving 'as a unit. From one end of the top of the frame (the right end in Fig. l) the chains take a downward and inward slant -from duplicate guide sprockets 34 to guide sprockets 35 located adjacent the tank, where they enter the dip-A ping chamber 23 through a suitable opening shown in Fig. l. From sprockets 35 the chains pass obliquely upwardly to duplicate guide sprockets 36` and thence straight upwardly to duplicatesprockets 37, where they enter the drying chamber through a suitable opening in the dividing wall l). the drying chamber the chains' have a zig-zag course over duplicate guide sprockets 39, 40, 4l. From theflatter, the chains leave the drying chamber, through a suitable opening shown in Fig; l, and take an upward outward slant to duplicate guide sprockets 42 from where they have an idle return across the top of the frame, supported by tracks 33, to the starting point, i. e. sprockets 34.

The downward slant just in advance ot the entrance to the dipping chamber provides a convenient loading station and the upward '54. The driving means t escribed ment.

slant beyond the drying chamber an uploading station.

While the chains may able manner inthe present exemplification, sprockets 37 are drive sprockets. On a shaft on which sprockets 3T are-mounted, is a worm gear 46 meshing with a worm 47 (Fig. 2) on a shai't 48. This shaft is driven bv a worm gear lt) meshing with a worm 50 on a cross shaft 5 The latter is rotated by a pulley 52 driven by belt 53 from a motor gives the chains a relatively slow predetermined speed. WVhile the movement is continuous', it is slow enough to enable the articles to be loaded and unloaded as the chains pass the loading and unloading stations.

)ivotally mounted on the conveyor means are removable article-supporting elements. To this end, extending between the chains at spaced intervals are a series of supporting racks and since these rack units are duplicates the description of one unit will sutlice. Referring more particularly to Figs. 8-10, a hanger rod (3() has its ends mounted in opposite links ot the chains to form part of the conveyor means. On the rod are spacer bushings 61 located between the chains and adjustably tixed collars (i2. The articlesupporting rack comprises a cross bar (33 and end pieces (il, the cross bar being secured to oblique lower edges of the end pieces. ln the front edge of cach end piece is an open-faced polydirectional slot 65 having at the top an arcuate bearing portion G6 ior taking over the hanger rod (it). At the lower end, each end piece extends outwardly in the form of a lip (36a. Vhen the rack is hung on the hangbe driven in any suit` er rod, by means of the bearing 66, it is freeto pivot thereon, end play being prevented by the fixed collars 62. This pivotal mounting permits the rack to keep, by gravity, a normal position as the chains travel through their tortuous path. and permits the rocking or tilting movements hereinafter referred to. The substantial normal position of the rack, which may vary slightly in different units, is shown in Fig. 6 and Fig. 3.

The construction described also permits the rack to be removed upon a polydirectional movement thereof with respect to the hanger rod. That is, the rack is tirst moved in a direction to enable the rod-receiving or bearing portions of the slots to clear the rod. Then, by a movement in a direction at an angleto the iirst movement, the rack is moved away from the rod, the rod passing through the open faces of the slots. Fig. 9 shows, in full lines, the normal position of the rack. The broken lines indicate the rack shifted upwardly and to the left so that the bearing portions of the slots can clear the rod. The rack is now free to be moved away from the rod by a lett and slightly downwardly move- It will be noted, however, that'the rack cannot be removed without polydirectional movement because for no unidirectional movement will the bearing portions of the slots clear the rod. The rack is replaced, as will be apparent, by a reversal of the polydirectional movement described.

In connection with the removably and pivotally mounted supporting rack there is provided releasable means tor normally preventing removal of the rack. YWith the type ot rack above described this may be accomplished by normally preventing the initial removing movement ot' the rack, i. e. the movement ot the bearing portions 66 ot' the slots away from the rods. This movement is prevented by cooperating stop elements on the rack and conveyor, at least one being displaceablc from stopping relation. Although capable of various constructions, in that here shown as an example, slidable on the rod 60 (Figs. 8-10) are two stop blocks in the form ot round washers or collars (i7. Extending upwardly from the cross bar (i3 of the rack is a flange G8 having its upper edge formed with a central low point 69 and two end stop shoulders 70 (Fig. ci). In latching position the blocks (3T are located at ornaar the end;-y ot the rod (2() and opposite the stop shoulders 70. A tendency of the rack to move in the initial direction above described brings the shouldcrs 70 and blocks 6T into engagement before .such initial movement can be completed. Consequently, as long as the stop blocks are so located the rack cannot be removed. As the stop blocks 67 are symmetrical with respect to the hanger rod,rthe action the same no matter in what angular position the rack may bc located on its pivot. To enable the rack to be removed, the stop blocks (3T are slid inwardly along the rod until they are opposite the low portion (if) of the flange G8, as' shown in thc broken line position of Fig.- 8` This portion is cut down tar enough to permit the initial movement oi` the rack without engaging the stop blocks. The construction described provides an etl'cctive holding means for the racks and one that is quickly and readily released to permit removal of the racks, frequent removals being desirable for cleaning and other pnrpos-cs.

There is provided means 'for firmly snpporting the articles on the racks and in a manner to permit ready loadingl and unloading. rIhis may be accomplished by a 'plurality of article-engaging fingers the tips ot which are located in more than one straight line` at least one finger being movable and having a spring tending to press it into article-engaging position. The embodiment hcre illustrated is dcsigned for the coating of articles ot the type which may be termed shells, that is, articles having a body portion and a rim or side wall. The particular articles here shown are round box parts, e. g. the upper or lower half rot a roundgbrass box. T11-coating such articles,

llO

the shells mav be supported by hangers consisting ot' three lingers, the tips of which take into the corner or crevice formed between the shell bod)Y and rim.

Although capable oll various constructions, in that here ,shown :is an example, each rack carries a pluralitj.v ot' hanger units. -\s these units are duplicates the description ot one unit will .suilii-e. lteniovablv secured to the crossbar 4321 by bolts T1 is a spaced plate T2. Clamped against the crossbar b v plate T2 is the looped end ot a double pronged wire T. Both prongs are lent downwardl)v at a substantial right angle. .t the bottom, the ends ofthe progs are bent upwardl)v at an obtuse angle. but in oppo-Ettl directions (Figs. 84)), to t'orm two fixed lingersy T1. Cooperating with the two fixed fingers 'Tt is a movable finger T. This is t'oz ined bj.' a wire Tt which has a straight portion slidable in a thimble TT secure'.l in a hole in plate T2 by having its rim turned down thereagainst and extending through a suitable hole in the crossbar (351. Beyond the thimble the wire TT is, bent outwardlv and then downwardlftv (Fig. 5)) and at the outer end is bent sharply upwardl)v to torm the finger T5. A\ll three of the fingers have pointed tips to take into the crevice be,- tween the bottom and rim ofthe shell 80. and the tips lie in the circum't'erenee otl the circle, providing a tlirc" niet support t'or the box. On the wire TT e the movable finger is au abutment nut TS and between this nut and plate T: is a i-oiletl .spring T9. This spring tends to pull movable linger T5 away from the other two. the n'iorentent being limited b v the bend in the wire (Fig. D).

To load a :shell onto a hanger unit. the niovable finger is moved inwardly against the spring toward the other fingers, until a hell can .span the three finger tips and hook over the same. This may be done liv hooking the shell rim over finger T5 and pulling down thereon until the opposite side of the rim can takt` over the fingers T4. or by pressing down on nut T8 to move the finger T5 to loading' position. Then Y the parts are released. .spring Tt) pullsl the movable linger into artide-supporting' position. That is. in the present instance. the .sprirg tends to pull the movable tiflger aw v 'from the other two. thus lirmlv holding' the shell on the hanger.

Inthe embodiment illustrated the fingers are so arranged that. in the normal position ot' the rack (Fig. 0) the shell is positioned to have an interior angle of approximatelv C tothe horizontal. And as the racks pivot by gravity to hang' in normal position. except when shifted. as elsewhere described, the shell normalljvv has this angular position during the course ot its travel.

As shownin Fig. '1. in the present, embodinient, the tank 2G is located just inside the opening b v which the racks enter the dipping chamber, the frontend ofthe tank, which has a slanting entrance wall t and 3), loeing below the near side ot' the sprockets 35. The tank is so located that as the racks move down around sprockets 35 the shells 80 are submerged in the lacquer bath contained in the tank. As will be apparent from Fig. 3, due to the normal position ot' the shell supports. the shells enter the bath edgewise and with a minimum resistance.

Any suitable means may be provided for n'iaintaining a substantially constant bath level, tor example the means described in the parent application referred to.

The. tank has a bottom pipe 97normally closed, for drainage purposes when it is desired to empty the tank. The end wall ot' the housing below the entrance opening is hinged at 9S (Fig. l) and may be swung out ol the wa v to permit a cover to be placed on the tank during briet` shutdowns.

To avoid an viinnecessary amount of lacquer in the tank. the tank has a false bottom 12S) substantiallyv parallel to the slant of the chains.

ln order to release the entrapped air above refm'red to. the position of the shell is shifted while in the bath to permit the air to escape. rl`o this end, below one of the sprockets 35, and a short distance inside the entrance end ot' the tank. is a cam track 101. This cam engages lugs 102 on the lips GG of the rack end pieces. The cam is so arranged that by its engagement with lug 102, the rack is tilted on its pivot to swing the supported shell backwards to a substantially vertical or pastvertical position. Fig. 3 shows a unit just approaching the cam 101. Fig. 4 shows a unit being tilted and approaching air-releasing position. As the rack continues its travel the lug 102 rides off cam 101 and the rack swings back to normal position. This tilting or flip of the shells in the bath permits an)y entrapped air to escape from the shells and pass out through the bath to the surface. As a result the dry spots referred to are eliminated.

-\s the rack leaves sprockets 35 and travels up the slant toward sprockets 230. the shells are withdrawn from the bath and the rate of emergence is regulable in order that it may be made to accord with the rate of lacquer flow, as above described. The rate of emergence ma \Y be changeifl b v changing the speed ol' the chains; by changing the slant thereof; or b v changing the supports to vary the angular position of the shells. As the, shells emerge the excess lacquer' drains off leaving a coating or film. This film, being still fluent, tends to flow b v gravity downward on the faces of the shells. ll the lacquer were permitted to set in this condition an uneven coating might result. There is provided means for causing the position of the withdrawn articles to be reversed with respect to the horizontal, thereby to reverse the gravitational flow of the lacquer film, and in constructions embodying the invention to the best advantage the articles are rocked back and forth across the horizontal to periodically reverse the lacquer flow while the lacquer retains substantial fluency. While this reversing may be accomplished in various ways, it may conveniently be done by rocking a supporting rack, suchas that described, on its pivot in such a manner as to rock the shells across the horizontal. Although capable of various constructions, in that here shown as an example, paralleling the path of each conveyor chain on its upward slant from the tank is a cam bar 110. Each cam bar 110 has a recurrent series of high cam curves 111 facing the tank and positioned to engage the approaching cam rider pins 83 on the rack end pieces. As the cam riders 83 engage the first high cam surfaces 111 the cams cause the rack to swing around on its pivot until the shells have reversed their position with respect to the horizontal. That is, the shells are turned end for end so that the points formerly at the bottom are now at the top. This position is illustrated in Fig, 5. Owing to this reversal the gravitational flow of the lacquer is new in the opposite direction and thus the lacquer is spread in an even film.

Beyond the high curves 111 each cam har has a recurrent series of low cam curves 112. After leaving the first high curves 111 the the cam riders 83 ride down ,the subsequent low curves 112, being held to the cams by the gravity swing of the rack, and the rack is returned to substantially its former position. This swings the shells back across the horizontal to substantially the position of emergence (Fig. 6) thus again reversing the gravitational flow of the lacquer film. It will now be apparent that this rocking of the rack is repeated for each unit of the recurrent series.

There is provided means for holding the shells between rocking movements and in carrying out the invention to what is now considered the best advantage the shells are held a longer interval in the position opposite the position of emergence. Although capable of various constructions, in that here shown as an example, between the high cam curves 111 and the low or return curves 112, are high flats 113 over which the pins 83 ride after attaining the crests of the high curves. These Hats hold the racks in displaced position a given interval which is sufficient to allow the lacquer film to overcome inertia and start to reverse its flow. In the present embodiment, with a chain speed of about two feet per minute, the high Hats hold the shells reversed for approximately two seconds. tween each low or return cam curve and the next high curve are low flats 114 whereby the shells are held in the position of emergence a given interval again to give time for the lacquer film to reverse its flow. In the present embodiment, the low flats 1li are slightly shorter than the high Hats 113 so that the shells are held in the position of emergence slightly less than two seconds. lVhen the shells emerge from the bath there is a slight concentration of lacquer ou the lower part of the shells. To equalize the film and compensate for this condition, the shells are hel`d longer in the position to permit more fiow away from the points of concentration. 'lhe periods of holding may be controlled by substituting cam barsv having flats of different lengths.

As a given rack progresses the shells a re periodically rocked through recurrent cycles duplicating the one described. The rocking is preferably continued until the lacquer film has set Asuficiently to have no substantial fluency. In the present embodiment the cam bars have six units.

With the construction described the lacquer film is evenly spread over the faces of the shells and results in an even coating.

In order to prevent sagging of the chains and to-position the cam riders 83 properly, paralleling the cam bars 11() are supporting tracks 115 on which the chains ride.

From the end of the rocking cams the chains pass up around the sprockets 36 and take an upward vertical path to the entrance of the drying chamber. While the lacquer film has no substantial fluency by the time the rocking operations are completed, in order to prevent any chance of creep of the film during what may be termed the preliminary setting period, there is provided means for holding the shells in a horizontal position during their travel from the rocking station to the drying chamber. This may be accomplished by cam means for engaging part of the rack to so tilt the same that the shells have horizontal position.

As here shown as an example, beyond the final low points 112 the cam bars 110 have cam curves 117 which are engaged by the cam riders 83. By this engagement a rack is tipped sufciently to swing the supported shells upwardly into a substantially horizontal position. Beyond each cam curve 117 is a high flat 118 for holding the rack in this tilted position. This flat extends (Fig. 15) to a point about below the axis of sprocket 36 where the cam riders are taken by a curved bar spring 119. These cam springs 119 are, in effect, continuations of fiats 118 and are made .in spring form to be yieldable in .case of a jam.

Since the holding cam track formed by the end of bar 110 and spring extension 119 engages the outer portions of cam riders 83, it cannot function beyond a certain point in the upward curve because it ceases to take hold. There is provided afsecond cam track 12() parallcling and offset from the first cam track so as to engage the cam riders 33 from within, i. c. it is between the cam riders and the rack pivot. This cam is arranged to take hold before the tirst one lets go so that the racks arc maintained in their tilted position.

ln order to ell'ect transfer from one cam to another without jar or the like andto avoid the necessity of providing exact overlap between the two cams. there is provided a movable extension on cam 120 with a spring tending to hold it in a slightly overthrown posiA tion. Although capable of various constructions; in that here shown as an example, piv oted to cam element 12() is a cam extension 121 (Figs. 11, 12;) extending inwardly and downwardly to overlap cam element 119. On the extension V121 isa pin 122 o which connected a spring The other end of this spring is anchored to a pin 121. 'lhe spring tends to draw the cam extension toward cam element 119 and permits movement i'u the opposite direction. Movement in either direction is limited by the ends of a slot 126 in a bracket 12T and in which pin 122 rides.

In normal position (Fig. 11) the spring pulls the extension 121 far enough toward cam element 119 to be beyond the position for taking the cam riders, i. e. it is slightly overthrown. The extension overlaps cam element 119 sufliciently to take hold before the latter lets go. As a rack travels around pulleys 36, the cam extensions 122 are engaged by cam riders 83 and are displaced against their Springs into a position where they become, in effect, continuations of cams 121. lith this construction the inner cams take hold before the outer cams let go and the transfer is effected Without jar.

At sprockets 37 the chains enter the drying chamber and take the zig-zag course above described. This gives plenty of time for the lacquer to dry and finally set.

There is provided means for heating the drying chamber and temperature controlled means for regulating the heat supply to maintain a substantially constant temperature. Although/capable of various constructions, in that here shown as an example, in the drying chamber are a number of steam pipe heating units 131. Each unit comprises a vseries of reverse bends transverse the chamber. Steam is supplied by a main 132 to which the units are suitably connected. The units are similarly connected to an exhaust main 133. In the live steam main 132 is a U-shaped connection 134 in which is a steam control valve 135 automatically operated in accordance with the temperature of the drying chamber. To this end, as here illustrated, connected to the steam 136 of valve 135 is a valve lever 137 the free end of which is connected to a chain 138 running over pulleys 139, 140 and having its ends connected to cranks 141, 142 on a, motor 143. The latter has a three wire connection with a thermostat 144, the thermometer bulb 11.3 ot' which extends into the drying chamber.

rl`he thermostat device and motor operated valve above referred to arc. in themselves, wcll known elements and no detailed description is necessary.

'hcn the temperature o the dryingr chainbcr exceeds a `given degree. lixed by the setting otl the thermostat, a circuit is closed to cause the motor to operate in a manner to cause the chain 13H to depress lever 13T and close valve 135. thus shutting olil the steam. 'hen the temperature of the' drying chamber falls bclow the critical point another circuit is closed to cause a reverse action to open valve 135 and admit steam.

A by-pass 146 extends across the U-shaped connection 131V and in the by-pass is a hand valve 11T for controlling the steam supply by hand if desired.

'lhere is provided means for controlling the temperature of the bath and this may be accomplished by controlling the temperature of the dipping chamber. ln the exemplilication illustrated the dipping chamber is heated from the relatively hotter drying chamber and a certain amount of cool air enters the conveyor entrance. ln the upper walls or roof of the drying chamber are adjustable dampers 1GO, ltl. By opening these dampers toa greater or less extent the temperature of the drying chamber may be reduced accordingly and by closing them itmay be raised.

As a rack passes up around*sprockets 41 it leaves the drying chamber and takes the upward slant above referred to, which forms an unloading station. While the rack is passing up this slant an attendant removes the finished shells. This may be accomplished conveniently by pushing the movable hanger finger inwardly. This causes the movable ii'iger to approach the other two so that the box shell is free to be lifted off.

After leaving the unloading station the chains and supports pass idly across the top of the. frame (Fig. 1) to the starting point, i. e. sprockets 34.

VVnile the operation of the apparatus will be clear from the above description. to review the same: the chains moving as described, a given rack passes downwardly from sprockets 34 past the loading station. Vhile the rack is passing the loading station, the shells are hung on the hanger fingers as above dcscribed. The supported shells are submerged in the bath and then withdrawn therefrom at a rate of emergence substantially equal to the rate of lacquer flow on the emerging shells. The rate of emergence is fixed by the chain speed, the angle ot its path, and the angular position of the shells. the apparatus shown the shells are positioned ln i at an angle of about 50 to the horizontal; the path of the chains inl leaving the tank is at an angle of about 10o to the horizontal and a convenient chain speed is about two feet per minute. This gives a certain rate of emergence and the viscosity of the bath is regulated to give a corresponding rate of flow.

Vhile the rateof emergence mayY be regulated, to accordwith ditferent lacquers, by varying one or more of the factors above mentioned, for a given ap i' yratilsfit is considered more practicable to regulate the rate of lacquer flow. The bath may thinned or thickened by adding or subtracting any! suitable thinning materialand the'temperature maybe regulated as. abovedescribed. Since the temperature of the drying chamber is maintained substantially constant, the dipping chamber and bathten'iperatures will ref main substantially constant under constant exterior conditions. Upon a change in exterior conditions, e. g. in room temperature, the dampers 160, 161 are operated to main tain the proper temperature of the dipping chamber. A dipping chamber temperature to give a bath tempcratore of about F. has been found suitable.

As the rack leaves the tank it is rocked by cams 110` as above described. to rock the shells back and forth across the horizontal, thus spreading the still fluent lacquer in an even film. Then the rack is tilted by cam curves 117 into a position such that the shells are substantially horizontal and is held in this position by cani elements 11S, 119, 120. The rack, in this position. is conveyed up around sprockets 36 and upward to the entrance to the drying chamber. The position described prevents any creep of the lacquer film on the faces of the shells during the preliminary setting period' and aids in the setting by moving the outer faces of the shells` face-on toward the hot air from the drying chamber.

At sprockets 37. the rack enters thedrying chamber and takes a zig-zag course through the same. By the resulting heat treatment the shells are dried and the 'lacquer film is finally set. Leaving the drying chamber, the rack passes upwardly past theY unloading station. The rack now passes idly across the top of the frame to the starting point.

It will be understood that the chains carry a considerable number of duplicate rack units and that the operation is the same for each successive unit. To simplify the illustration only a few of the units have been shown. In Fig. l only one unit is indicated. ln Fig. 2 several units are indicated but only the racks themselves are shown the fingers and associate parts being removed from cross bars 63 for convenience vof illustration. In Figs. Si?, while only a few units are shown in full.

Y these figures indicate the spaced han-ger rods 60, it being understood that each hanger rod carries a rack unit.

The method described makes possible a product having an even, uniform coating and at the same time the coating may be accomplished at such a speed as to make possible quantity production that is commercially economical.

W'hat is claimed is:

1. The method of coating articles with lacquer or the like. which comprises submerging the articles in a bath of the coating material, withdrawing the articles from the bath at a rate of emergence substantially the same as the rate of drain of the lacquer from the emerging articles, reversing the position of the articles with respect to the horizontal after complete withdrawal from the bath, thereby to reverse the direction of drain of the lacquer on the articles, and drying.

2. The method of coating articles withv lacquer or thelike. which comprises submerging the articles in a bath of the coating material.l withdrawing the articles from the bath at a. rate of emergence substantially the same as the rate of drain of the lacquer from the emerging articles, rocking thel articles back and forth across the horizontal after complete withdrawal from the bath to pcriodically reverse the direction-of drain of the lacquer on the articles, and drying.

3. The method of coating articles with lacquer or the like, which comprises submerging the articles in a bath of the coating material, withdrawing the articles from the bath at a rate of emergence substantially' the same as the rate of drain of the lacquer from the emerging articles, rocking the articles back and forth across the horizontal after complete withdrawal from the bath to periodically reverse the direction of drain of the lacquer on the articles, holding the articles horizontal during a preliminary setting period, and drymg.

-4. The method of coating articles with lacquer or the like, which comprises submerging the articles in a bath of the coating material. withdrawing the articles from the iath at an angle to the horizontal` reversing the position of the withdrawn articles with respect to the horizontal after complete withdrawal from the bath, thereby to reverse the direction of drain of the lacquer film, and drying.

5. The method of coating articles with lacquer or thc like, which comprises submerging the articles in a bath of the coating material` withdrawing the articles from the bath at an angle to the horizontal, rocking the withdrawn articles back and forth across the horizontal after complete xwithdrawal from the bath to periodically reverse the direction of drain of the lacquer film, and drying.

6. The method of coating articles with lacquer or the like, which comprises submerging the articles in a bath of the coating Inatcrial, withdrawing the articles from the bath at an angle to the horizontal, rocking the withdrawn articles across the horizontal after complete withdrawal from the bath, thereby to reverse the direction of drain of the lacquer film. holding the articles in a horizontal position during; a preliminary setting period. and drying.

7. The method of coating articles with lacquer or the like which coinprises submerging the articles in a bath of the coating material. and withdrawing the articles from the bath at a low angle to the horizontal and at a rate of emergence substantially the same as the rate of drain of the lacquer from the emerging articles.

8. The method of coating articles with lacquer or the like which comprises submergingr the articles in a bath of the coating material-r withdraw`in,gr the articles from the bath at a low angle to the horizontal and at a rate of emergence substantially the same as the rate of drain of the lacquer from the emerging articlesl` and rocking the articles after complete withdrawal from the bath back and forth across the horizontal alternately to incline the articles at angles above and below the horizontal.

In testimony whereof, We have hereunto set our hands.

JAMES S. GEORGE. ROGER S. SPERRY.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,783,188. Granted December 2, 1930, to

JAMES S. GEORGE ET AL.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 8, strike out lines 11 to 18, comprising claim 7, and line 19, for claim numeral "8" read 7; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 31st day of March, A. D. 1931.

M. J. Moore, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

